I am trying to help out someone coming in from Australia in August. He is looking for somewhere to rent and shoot a .50 BMG while he is here. He has been in touch with Tac Pro in Mingus, but said he feels like he is getting a little bit of a runaround and now they are asking for payment up front. That sounds a little odd to me, but maybe they have a valid reason? Why would they require payment up front?

Does anyone know of anywhere else that would have a .50BMG for rent and the range to shoot it?

Well, actually, at my home range - Eagle Gun Range in Lewisville, you don't pay until you are leaving, but that's not what I meant. He is coming from Australia and trying to book the time to rent and shoot the .50BMG and they are requesting he pays to even book the time before he gets here. Maybe it's because they bring in additional personnel to help him with it or something. ??

I am still wondering if there might be other places in Texas where he can rent one, if anyone has any ideas. Thanks!

Pawpaw wrote:Where do you know of that you can shoot anything, including your own guns, without paying up front?

I'm not being nasty, I'd just like to know.

I've never been to any range that actually took your money until you actually arrived, ready to shoot. If they wanted money up front, I would pass on that. And any other activities at that range. But that's just me.

I guess it could be different if they had to bring in the gun/instructor, but you would think they would communicate that up front. It seems to me that gun shops/ranges have more than their fair share of poor customer service practices. Anecdotally speaking.

packinmama wrote:Well, actually, at my home range - Eagle Gun Range in Lewisville, you don't pay until you are leaving, but that's not what I meant. He is coming from Australia and trying to book the time to rent and shoot the .50BMG and they are requesting he pays to even book the time before he gets here. Maybe it's because they bring in additional personnel to help him with it or something. ??

I am still wondering if there might be other places in Texas where he can rent one, if anyone has any ideas. Thanks!

Well, that puts a different light on it. I didn't realize they were demanding full payment before they would even book an appointment. I could understand requiring a deposit, assuming they would incur expenses if you failed to show up, but requiring full payment is extreme.

I didn't know any range waited until you're leaving to collect fees. Every one I've been to has required payment on arrival. Live & learn.

Thanks for responding.

Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence. - John Adams

Pawpaw wrote:Where do you know of that you can shoot anything, including your own guns, without paying up?

Shoot Smart in Grand Prairie doesn't charge you until you are through shooting. Before DFW Gun Range burned down they did not charge until you were through shooting. I don't know about DFW now because I spend my time at Shoot Smart.

Another vote for TacPro - since you can take him just a little down the road and hit up Mary's, introduce him to a propper Texas chicken fried steak.
If you don't mind the added drive, Abilene is just another 75 miles further down the road = and he can shoot one to his hearts content (depending on how much he wants to chip in on ammo.

When any govt, or church,says This you can't read, are forbidden to know, the result is tyranny and oppression. Little force is needed to control a man who has been hoodwinked; no force can control a free man, not the rack, bombs, not anything, you can't conquer a free man, at most you can kill him.

They're probably reserving a lane for him like a vip. They dont want him to fly 12, 000 miles only to discover that there are no lanes open n leave texas empy handed. If they r giving him the vip treatment then advance payment is reasonable.

packinmama wrote:I am trying to help out someone coming in from Australia in August. He is looking for somewhere to rent and shoot a .50 BMG while he is here. He has been in touch with Tac Pro in Mingus, but said he feels like he is getting a little bit of a runaround and now they are asking for payment up front. That sounds a little odd to me, but maybe they have a valid reason? Why would they require payment up front?

Does anyone know of anywhere else that would have a .50BMG for rent and the range to shoot it?